SIGNATURE HOME

Featured In Home & Design Magazine

A Contemporary Residence Fits Right In The Neighborhood

A new perspective on contemporary design allows this 4,278 square foot home in The Moorings to fit seamlessly into its surrounding neighborhood, yet still calls attention to its uniqueness. This four bedroom, four-and-two-half bath home is this year’s Home & Design “Signature Home” and features a collaboration of some of the most innovative minds within the industry.

With function and creativity at the forefront of a warm, clean-lined vision, this home designed by Don Stevenson of Don Stevenson Design, Inc., is not your average Naples home. “We dedicate time gathering information from various study groups to understand how homeowners want to live in their home. I also ask myself, ‘how are they going to use this home?’ Homes can be beautiful on the outside, or first walking through, but if it’s not functional and livable for the owner, then it’s a useless effort,” explains Stevenson.

Each year, one dream team is chosen who share a common goal, to design collaboratively and freely without the usual challenges of having a custom client to please. “These homes are like an artist’s canvas, but with a dozen artists painting in harmony,” describes Linda Donnelly, Publisher of Home & Design. This year’s project is indeed a piece of art.

A spectacular native Banyan tree frames the entrance with grandeur and impact and a natural, matte-finish travertine walkway traces around the home’s exterior foyer. “The shape of the home’s lot and the beauty of the existing Banyan tree were particularly interesting,” states Ty Groff, Owner of Everglades Landscape Company. “Adding Bromeliads and Everglades Palms connects with the home’s organic-contemporary design,” adds Groff.

A dramatic construction detail of the home is the interior continuation of the stacked travertine wall treatment used outside. Repeated from the entry foyer, and spanning to the second floor loft, the exterior stacked travertine columns also enclose the outdoor seating area and pool. “The stacked stone is installed with complete precision. The corners are very crisp and illustrate the quality of workmanship used to always exceed client’s expectations,” says builder Gordon Jenkins of Gordon Luxury Homes.

The stone anchors the entrance while the staircase elevates over the foyer and open living room. “The staircase stretches along the travertine stacked stone wall and has a cable railing to avoid any obstruction of the room’s focal point,” describes Stevenson.

Two exquisite wood finishes are utilized throughout the home’s flooring. A silver-grey tone wood from the European Elegance Collection is installed on the first floor, while the staircase features an ebony stain, both manufactured by Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring. “The unique and distinct oiling process used to enhance the coloring and characteristics of the wood is meticulously hand-crafted by artisans in our family-owned European factories. These skilled artisans allow the floor to exude a sophisticated ease inspired by architectural shapes in soft hues. This floor captures that spirit from Old World glamour to a modern cosmopolitan life,” shares Arturo Guido of Legno Bastone Wide Plank Flooring.

“The stairwell light fixture is the driving force of inspiration which guided us through the home. We wanted a piece that was just as beautiful on the inside as it was on the outside. The Elon lighting fixture has a watered glass cylinder that is on a beautifully finished chrome canopy that cascades down like a waterfall in the stairwell,” explains Lynne Stambouly of Lighting First’s Specialty Lighting Division.

Natural light floods the open living room with oversized windows sourced by South Florida Millwork, JELD- WEN’s largest distributor of custom collection wood windows in Naples, and capped by a staggering 24’ ceiling. “We maximized the use of windows and natural light to bring the outside in with both southern and northern exposures to the home,” states Stevenson.

An illuminated, three-sectioned, floating ceiling canopy brings coziness to the open plan. “A dimensional and squared off light fixture was chosen to coordinate with the shape of the dropped ceilings,” notes Stambouly.

The gourmet kitchen looks on the expansive two- story great room. The subway installed glass kitchen backsplash with pearl-sheen effect contrasts with the white lacquered cabinetry flanking a stainless steel hood. Opposite, the caramel-colored cabinet wall conceals the Sub-Zero refrigerator and is repeated along the base of the kitchen island. Crystallo Exotic marble enhances the waterfall kitchen island and echoes the milk-white cabinetry.

In the dining room, “A raw edge wood-slab dining room table by Phillip’s Collection adds to the home’s natural style. Each table has its own unique characteristics such as size, thickness, color value, and fluid shape,” adds Sadez.

Another large 75” x 75” oil on canvas titled “Miles Away” by Marc Johnson, artist and owner of Rothlynn Fine Art FL adorns the dining room wall. The deep hue and depth of the artwork is reflected on the mirrored cabinet below. “The mix of warm and cool elements featured with the dining room table and mirrored buffet is unexpected and reflects the other beautiful elements around the room,” explains Melissa Dial of Don Stevenson Design, Inc.

The ultra-plush, hand-knotted Tencel viscose shag rug manufactured by Bach Fine Rugs provides a platform for the soft, organic-textured, and warm theme. “The living room is a space where this idea of ‘modern-organic’ really came to life. I love the combination of the linear sectional and chairs with the petrified wood coffee table and natural accessories,” states Kelsey Miklavcic, Executive Editor of Home & Design.

“We enjoy being challenged and taking on projects that are on the cutting edge of architectural design expressions,” explains Carter Grant of Grate Fireplace & Outdoor Living. The striking fireplace column is a focal point in the living room. “The Ortal 200 TS fireplace is a specialty piece with a three- sided glass opening giving optimal viewpoints which truly gives a comfortable feeling to the contemporary palette,” adds Diane Key, also of Grate Fireplace & Outdoor Living.

A multi-faceted rectangular mirror in the hallway beckons you into the master suite. “Silver, gold, and copper metallic accents from a toss pillow provided inspiration for the space. We wanted a balance of masculine and feminine elements. The curved leather chaise lounge from International Design Source contrasts the linear wood of the headboard and night stands,” says Dial.

The elegant welded chrome figurative sculpture titled, “Diana” measuring 30” x 34” was commissioned specifically for the space from Rothlynn Fine Art FL and adds another delicate- virile contrast. The lilac colored metallic surface treatment on the headboard wall by O’Guin Decorative Finishes provides a softness to the room while the chain mail basket light fixture and matching sconces add glamorous drama to the palette. “The design team was looking to add a pop of soft color that would enhance the serene atmosphere of the master bedroom. By changing the trim and door colors to a deeper gray that related directly to the floor, we softened an element of contrast. This allows the furniture, fixtures and sculpture to take the stage. A newly-released imported Italian wall finish was chosen for its luxurious blend of metallic warmth and organic pattern. Trowel- applied wall finishes add depth and unique visual texture that aren’t characteristic of traditional faux finishes. For this room, we wanted to take it to the next level,” says Christopher O’Guin of O’Guin Decorative Finishes.

In regard to the lanai and the surrounding landscape design, “I tend to look at things very organically or structurally,” shares Groff. The glass tile and travertine surrounding the pool, installed by Nassau Pools, accentuates the uncommon rectilinear layout. This maximizes the size and shape of the home’s lot and traces the outline of the floor plan. The second floor sun deck offers both covered and uncovered lounging areas. The glass railing allows for a perfectly clear view to the pool and landscaping below. “Let’s be creative, be diverse. Why be the same?” Stevenson closes. Good question, Don.

Author: The Light Lady

Known as "The Light Lady" since 1984, Lynne Stambouly is Senior Lighting Designer to Lighting First's Specialty Lighting Division (SLD), in Southwest Florida. She has owned her own lighting showroom, been the lighting designer for the largest interior design firms in Southwest Florida, and served as President of the Naples, Florida chapter of the Interior Design Society. Lynne’s lighting designs express her passion for the ways in which light effects peoples’ lifestyles and environment. She invites designers and consumers to visit the new, fully interactive LED Lighting Experience Center, in Bonita Springs, FL. For more information on lighting innovations and design, contact Lynne at: Lightlady@lightingfirst.us or call Specialty Lighting Division at Lighting First: (239) 939-6900.